New 2012 City Population Estimates

[adaniel]

These were released on Thursday, and in light of recent events they didn't get much attention here. These new numbers actually has quite a bit of good news for OKC and surrounding communities.

As of July 2012, Oklahoma City has an estimated population of 599,199 (so we have likely broke the 600K mark). This represents a growth of 9,791, or 1.661% from July 2011. This now places us as the 29th largest city in the US, up from 31st just a few years ago.

In comparison to the top 50 cities in the US, OKC's growth rate ranks a respectable 14th. OKC is growing about 30% faster than the median growth rate for the top 50 cities.

Below is data for surrounding towns:
(City: 2012 population, increase from 2011, percent growth rate).

Norman: 115,562, +1,759, +1.546
Edmond: 84,885, +1,902, +2.292%
Moore: 57,810, +1,138, +2.008%
Midwest City: 56,080, +817, +1.478%
Yukon: 24,128, +615, +2.616%
Mustang: 18,543, +505, +2.800%

Tulsa: 393,987, +1535, +0.391%
Broken Arrow: 102,019, +1931, +1.929%
Owasso: 31,453, +423, +1.363%
Jenks: 18,059, +425, +2.410%
Bixby: 22,580, +1058, +4.916%

For anyone who wants to play around with other data, here is the link:

City & Towns Totals: Vintage 2012 - U.S Census Bureau

[Plutonic Panda]

I wonder if the latest pop. projections are still accurate or if the city has grown faster than anticipated and needs to be redone?

[ljbab728]

I wonder if the latest pop. projections are still accurate or if the city has grown faster than anticipated and needs to be redone?

Plupan, population projections are never accurate. They are only estimates base on available information. Redoing anything would serve no purpose.

[Plutonic Panda]

Plupan, population projections are never accurate. They are only estimates base on available information. Redoing anything would serve no purpose.

Well, I didn't mean accurate, as in "on the dot" or anything.

[catch22]

That's why the census is every ten years, to recalibrate the numbers. The years between are just estimates.

[adaniel]

I wonder if the latest pop. projections are still accurate or if the city has grown faster than anticipated and needs to be redone?

The Census Bureau's estimates last decade were way off when the final 2010 tally was released. Although Oklahoma's were more accurate, for the most part the Census did not detect major demographic shifts in this country that was slowing population growth. So their estimates were generally a lot higher than what it really was.

For example, the population of Atlanta was off about 110,000+ between the estimated population and the official 2010 number. Ironically they are still showing some ridiculous growth rate for Atlanta even though I personally know their economy is dismal right now.

So just take these numbers as a rough estimate.

[dcsooner]

This recent spate of severe weather will I predict significantly slow the recent good gains in OKC metro area population. We were poised to surpass Louisville and close in on Memphis. I think we lose ground over the next 2-4 years primarily to some people unwillingness to move to an area with routine severe weather

[bchris02]

This recent spate of severe weather will I predict significantly slow the recent good gains in OKC metro area population. We were poised to surpass Louisville and close in on Memphis. I think we lose ground over the next 2-4 years primarily to some people unwillingness to move to an area with routine severe weather

I agree. I wouldn't be surprise to see population losses the next few years. I moved to OKC last August and am seriously considering moving away due to this weather. I have not been hit by any of the tornadoes but having been effected by May 3, 1999 before I moved away last time, it has been traumatizing.

On top of that, OKC unlike South Florida, in my opinion, doesn't have enough draw to make living here worth the risk being that I don't have family in the metro area.

Please don't take offense by these comments as I mean nothing by them. The people of OKC are some of the best I've ever known. I just can't take constant tornadoes and destruction everywhere all the time.

[Plutonic Panda]

This recent spate of severe weather will I predict significantly slow the recent good gains in OKC metro area population. We were poised to surpass Louisville and close in on Memphis. I think we lose ground over the next 2-4 years primarily to some people unwillingness to move to an area with routine severe weather

Yeah, I highly doubt it will have any effect. We've been having severe weather for years lol

[Jake]

This is a really bad year for tornadoes. Some years are bad, some years not so bad. People will still move here. And unless a Katrina-esque disaster were to happen, I doubt a mass exodus will happen anytime soon.

[Plutonic Panda]

I agree. I wouldn't be surprise to see population losses the next few years. I moved to OKC last August and am seriously considering moving away due to this weather. I have not been hit by any of the tornadoes but having been effected by May 3, 1999 before I moved away last time, it has been traumatizing.

On top of that, OKC unlike South Florida, in my opinion, doesn't have enough draw to make living here worth the risk being that I don't have family in the metro area.

Please don't take offense by these comments as I mean nothing by them. The people of OKC are some of the best I've ever known. I just can't take constant tornadoes and destruction everywhere all the time.

I mean this as no insult what so ever, but if you're really that terrified of tornados and severe weather, than Oklahoma is not for you. You should seek a counselor or consult a psychologist, if you're financially dependent on living here. However, there are plenty of places that have disasters that are much worse than tornados. As a previous poster pointed out, droughts, floods, and other natural disasters kill many more people a year than tornados.

[Pete]

Thanks for all this great information.

I'd really like to see OKC and the metro area break through the 20% decade growth level, which would put us in the pure boom-town category.

We've been running more in the 14-16% range which is a good, but not great.

[bchris02]

I mean this as no insult what so ever, but if you're really that terrified of tornados and severe weather, than Oklahoma is not for you. You should seek a counselor or consult a psychologist, if you're financially dependent on living here. However, there are plenty of places that have disasters that are much worse than tornados. As a previous poster pointed out, droughts, floods, and other natural disasters kill many more people a year than tornados.

It's the frequency and the suddenness of tornadoes that make them so scary. Hurricanes and earthquakes do far more damage but they aren't near as frequent. Earthquakes are sudden but major ones don't happen very often. Tornado season should be ending going into June so we'll have almost a year before we have to do this again.

[Plutonic Panda]

Thanks for all this great information.

I'd really like to see OKC and the metro area break through the 20% decade growth level, which would put us in the pure boom-town category.

We've been running more in the 14-16% range which is a good, but not great.

I have a gut feeling that when this phase of development is over and we get our MAPS3 projects finished, Downtown revitalized, P180 finished, Boulevard complete. . . OKC's population will really start to boom!

[Plutonic Panda]

It's the frequency and the suddenness of tornadoes that make them so scary. Hurricanes and earthquakes do far more damage but they aren't near as frequent. Earthquakes are sudden but major ones don't happen very often. Tornado season should be ending going into June so we'll have almost a year before we have to do this again.

I completely understand. My grandmother is absolutely frightened of these storms. I just think maybe you should seek some sort of counseling and find out what you could do to help you get through these storms without the stress.

[bchris02]

Wow....please tell me you aren't a native Oklahoman. Sorry to be so blunt, but this sounds like pure wuss talk to me. Constant tornadoes and destruction everywhere all the time? That's just a ridiculous statement. There's nothing constant about them and in no way is there destruction everywhere all the time. As someone who has lived through the tornadoes and who has family impacted by the May 3 and May 20 tornadoes, I say please, just leave. Your ridiculous hyperbole might be appreciate in South Florida.

Admin: you can delete this post if you like. I just had to briefly voice how embarrassed I feel for this guy.

I am not a native Oklahoman, and I can understand how being afraid of these storms can seem like wuss-talk to people who are accustomed to it. When you are used to living in places with placid weather though, it can be quite a shock.

At least according to most people, the 2013 severe weather season has been significantly worse for OKC than most years and its not likely we will see this, at least this significant, in coming years.

[Plutonic Panda]

I am not a native Oklahoman, and I can understand how being afraid of these storms can seem like wuss-talk to people who are accustomed to it. When you are used to living in places with placid weather though, it can be quite a shock.

At least according to most people, the 2013 severe weather season has been significantly worse for OKC than most years and its not likely we will see this, at least this significant, in coming years.

I actually think the weather in general, has been pretty weird the last few years.

[Bunty]

This recent spate of severe weather will I predict significantly slow the recent good gains in OKC metro area population. We were poised to surpass Louisville and close in on Memphis. I think we lose ground over the next 2-4 years primarily to some people unwillingness to move to an area with routine severe weather

Please explain why people didn't quit moving into the OKC area after the 1999 and 2003 Moore tornadoes. If anything, the population increase accelerated. Also while less destructive, Edmond has had some tornadoes since 2000.

I've survived driving through a tornado while a passenger in a car. Then years later, I heard the frightening roar of a tornado as it passed over my house while I was under a mattress in the hall. Fortunately, only quite minor damage to the house. After that, instead of moving out of Oklahoma I made sure when I had a new house built that it had a safe room. Most places in this country are gonna be subject to some news making disaster sooner or later, anyway.

[Bunty]

I actually think the weather in general, has been pretty weird the last few years.

Yeah, ever since 2007 when we had the opposite of a drought, and it rained around a record breaking 60 inches for the year.

[king183]

I am not a native Oklahoman, and I can understand how being afraid of these storms can seem like wuss-talk to people who are accustomed to it. When you are used to living in places with placid weather though, it can be quite a shock.

At least according to most people, the 2013 severe weather season has been significantly worse for OKC than most years and its not likely we will see this, at least this significant, in coming years.

Okay, sorry--I was too harsh in that post. I just don't like the panic and hyperbole we've seen in the last few weeks. I've heard repeatedly on the national news how this type of stuff (EF5 tornadoes, death, and destruction) happens all the time in Oklahoma--and that's just not true. It gives people outside of Oklahoma--and those within it who don't know better-- a completely false and damaging impression of what it's like to live here. I understand people being frightened. That's natural and proper. But I can't stand the panic and hyperbole, which can be more dangerous than the actual weather.

I'm hoping this doesn't negatively impact OKC's image and our population trend, but I have a bad feeling it will.

[RadicalModerate]

Perhaps some of this has something to do with why folks who have stuck around here for awhile are generally thought of as friendlier than most.

(still fightin' against that danged ol' expatiate' Steinbeckian stereotype i reckon . . . =)

Don't move somewhere and try to turn it into a copy of what you were running away from.
(40 yr. old sign outside of Lyons, Colorado: Visit But Don't Unpack)
(40 yr. old bumpersticker all over the place, just down the road: Don't Californicate Colorado)

[dcsooner]

Please explain why people didn't quit moving into the OKC area after the 1999 and 2003 Moore tornadoes. If anything, the population increase accelerated. Also while less destructive, Edmond has had some tornadoes since 2000.

I've survived driving through a tornado while a passenger in a car. Then years later, I heard the frightening roar of a tornado as it passed over my house while I was under a mattress in the hall. Fortunately, only quite minor damage to the house. After that, instead of moving out of Oklahoma I made sure when I had a new house built that it had a safe room. Most places in this country are gonna be subject to some news making disaster sooner or later, anyway.

Great response Bunty. I am hoping people can/ will put these storms into the proper perspective. Oklahoma and Oklahoma City really are great areas to live, but, people not from the middle of the country tend to overreact and make move decisions based on what little they see. My family is in the State and they aren't moving

[Teo9969]

This, like every other major tragedy, will fade from the minds of those individuals and communities affected.

For people who right now are really on the edge between coming here or not, these storms may be a sort of tipping point. But anyone who was seriously considering OKC and certainly future prospects, this will be on the list of negatives that are outweighed by many positives.

What you're DEFINITELY not going see is population LOSSES. That is just absurd. Very minimal numbers of people will leave. They'll just grow smarter.

[OKCRT]

This, like every other major tragedy, will fade from the minds of those individuals and communities affected.

For people who right now are really on the edge between coming here or not, these storms may be a sort of tipping point. But anyone who was seriously considering OKC and certainly future prospects, this will be on the list of negatives that are outweighed by many positives.

What you're DEFINITELY not going see is population LOSSES. That is just absurd. Very minimal numbers of people will leave. They'll just grow smarter.

I myself think these storms are exciting. Not that I want to see homes and properties destroyed or people getting injured.

[bchris02]

This, like every other major tragedy, will fade from the minds of those individuals and communities affected.

For people who right now are really on the edge between coming here or not, these storms may be a sort of tipping point. But anyone who was seriously considering OKC and certainly future prospects, this will be on the list of negatives that are outweighed by many positives.

What you're DEFINITELY not going see is population LOSSES. That is just absurd. Very minimal numbers of people will leave. They'll just grow smarter.

What about Moore residents that decide not to rebuild? OKC proper may not see any losses from this, but I am sure Moore will, unfortunately.